Garment display rack having hangers pivotally mounted on horizontal axes



Jan. 3, 1967 M. COHEN 3,295,696

GARMENT DISPLAY RACK HAVING HANGERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON HORIZONTAL AXES Filed Jan. 25. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.I

FIG.2

FIG.3

INVENTOR MAURICE COHEN ATTORNEY M. COHEN 3, GARMENT DISPLAY RACK HAVING HANGERS PIVOTALLY Jan. 3, 1967 MOUNTED ON HORIZONTAL AXES Filed Jan. 25. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

COHEN MAURICE ATTORNEYS ling of the garment supported by its hanger.

United States Patent 3 295 696 GARMENT DISPLAY habit HAVING HANGERS PIVQTALLY MOUNTED ON HORIZGNTAL AXES Maurice Cohen, 3580 NW. 52nd St., Miami, Fla. 33126 Filed Jan. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 427,603 8 Claims. (Cl. 211171) The present invention relates to a garment display rack. More particularly, the present invention relates to a garment display rack that includes a plurality of hangers, each of which is pivotally mounted on a horizontal'axis.

In the display of mens trousers in retail establishments, it has been the custom in many instances to display the trousers in stacks on large tables. Although the stacking of trousers in this manner provides for the display of large numbers thereof, it is recognized that such trouser stacks do not present an attractive display. In Patent #3,072,263, which issued January 8, 1963, one form of a rack for displaying garments in stacked relation is illustrated. In the invention shown in the aforesaid patent, the trousers to be displayed are mounted on individual hangers and are located in substantially vertical stacked relation; however the concept of the invention illustrated in this patent does contemplate the broad principle of mounting the individual hangers such that they are pivotally movable on horizontal axes. The present invention defines an improvement over the garment rack illustrated in Patent #3,072,263 and incorporates a frame that includes at least two spaced horizontal rails. In the inside opposing surfaces of the rails, a plurality of holes are located in spaced-apart relation, the holes in one rail being aligned with the holes in the other rail. In order to display trousers -such as garments on the rack, a plurality of garment receiving hangers are mounted on the rails for pivotal movement with respect thereto and about horizontal axes. For this purpose, each of the hangers includes a horizontal garment supporting portion that extends substantially the distance between the rails and is elevated with respect thereto. Side portions are joined to each end of the garment supporting portions of each hanger, and a lower extension is joined to each side portion and is offset with respect thereto. Each of the ofiset lower extensions terminates in an outwardly extending projection that is received in one of the holes that is formed in a rail. Thus, the hangers are pivotally mounted between the rails and about horizontal axes. Because of the special configuration of the hangers that include the offset lower extensions, each of the hangers is pivotally movable from a first position, wherein the side portions thereof are inclined with respect to the vertical, to a second position wherein the side portions are disposed in vertical relation. When some of the hangers are located in a group at the first position and other hangers are located in a group at the second position, a space is defined between the innermost hanger in one group with respect to the innermost hanger in the other group. This space as so defined by the group of hangers enables a customer to move the required hanger within the space for easy manipulation and hand- In order to locate the hangers in the first and second positions as described, aligned stops are fixed to the inside opposing surfaces of the rails and adjacent the ends thereof. The offset lower extensions of the end hangers that are located adjacent to these stops are adapted to engage the stops for positioning the side portions of the end hangers either in the inclined or vertical position as required. When the hangers are located in one position such that the side portions thereof are vertical, the offset portions of adjacent hangers engage each other and define stops therefor. When the hangers are lo- 3,295,696 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 ice cated in the other position and the offset portions are substantially vertical, the side portions of adjacent hangers engage each other and define stops therefor.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display rack that includes a plurality of hangers, each of which is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rack for displaying garments that includes opposed rails between which a plurality of garment receiving hangers are mounted for pivotal movement, the hangers being movable between a first and second position and being adapted for location in either of the positions as required.

Still another object is to provide a garment hanger for use in a garment display rack that includes offset portions that provide for pivotal movement of the hanger between a first and second position.

Still another object is to provide a rack for displaying garments that includes a plurality of garment receiving hangers that are mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, each of the hangers being pivotally movable from a first position to a second position and including portions that are engageable with corresponding portions formed on an adjacent hanger for 10- cating the hangers in either the first or second position.

Still another object is to provide a pivotally mounted hanger for use in trouser display racks, wherein the trousers are positively retained on the hanger for movement therewith and are easily and quickly removed from the hanger for inspection thereof.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the garment display rack embodied in the present in vention showing the location of a plurality of garment receiving hangers that are mounted for pivotal movement in the rack;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of two of the hangers embodied in the present invention showing the movement thereof from a first to a second position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a plurality of hangers of the present invention as they are mounted between side rails that are formed as part of the garment rack embodied herein; and

PEG. 5 is a top plan view of the garment hanger embodied in the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the garment display rack embodied herein is illustrated and includes a housing generally indicated at W. The housing it) is formed in a generally hollow construction that is defined by side walls 12 and 14 and end walls 16 and 1-8. Joined to the uppermost end of the side walls 12 and 14- are horizontal side rails 20 and 22, respectively. Corresponding end rails 24 and 26 are fixed to the side rails 20 and 22 and are mounted on the uppermost ends of the end walls 16 and 18 respectively. The space defined by the rails 20, 22, 24 and 26 is provided for receiving a stacking unit generally indicated at 28 that includes a plurality of hangers, each of which is indicated at 3d and is pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis, as will be described hereinafter. In order to accommodate the garment hangers 3i) for the pivotal mounting thereof, the inside surfaces of the rails 20' and 22 are formed with a plurality of spaced holes 32, each mounting the hanger 30 about a horizontal axis.

hole in one of the side rails being aligned with a corresponding hole in the opposed side rail. As seen in FIG. 3, the opposed holes 32 in the side rails 20 and 22 receive projecting portions of the hangers 3t} therein for mounting the hangers 30 about horizontal axes.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the hanger 3t) that constitutes a critical form of the invention is illustrated in the manner in which it is mounted for pivotal movement between the side rails 20 and 22 of the housing 10. All of the hangers 30 are constructed identically and, therefore, reference will be made to only one of the hangers with respect to the construction thereof. The hanger 30 includes an upper horizontal garment supporting portion 34 to the ends of which are joined side portions 36, the side portions 36 being formed substantially at right angles with respect to the horizontal portion 34, but being located substantially in the same vertical plane therewith. Joined to the side portions 36 and disposed in offset relation with respect thereto are extensions 40. As seen in FIG. 2, the angle between the side portions 36 and the offset portions 40 joined thereto, as represented by the angle Y, is greater than 90 degrees, which provides for movement of the hanger 30 from a first to a second position as will hereinafter be described. Referring again to FIG. 3, the offset portions 40 have outwardly extending projections 44 joined thereto that extend through aligned openings 32 in the opposed rails 20 and 22 for pivotally As further seen in FIG. 3, a shortened horizontal portion 48 is joined to a side portion 36 and extends inwardly thereof to define a clasp for retaining the trousers in place on the horizontal portion 34 of the hanger 30.

It is seen, as particularly shown in FIG. 1, that the trousers to be displayed on the rack are placed on the horizontal portions 34 of each of the hangers 30, the waistband and cufi portions of the trousers and a major portion of the trouser legs extending into the concealed interior of the housing. Since the waistband and the cult portions of the trousers hang in a substantially vertical plane, the exposed portions of the trousers that are located on the horizontal portions 34 of each hanger are available for inspection and handling as required.

As previously mentioned, each of the hangers 3t, because of the unique configuration thereof, is adapted to be pivoted on its horizontal axis from a first position to a second position, this movement being normally carried out during handling of the hangers by a customer who is inspecting the trousers mounted on the hangers. As seen in FIG. 2, two of the hangers, as shown in full lines, are located in a first position, wherein the side portions 36 thereof are located substantially inclined, whereas the offset portions 40 thereof are substantially vertical. In this first position, the side portions 36 of the two adjacent hangers are located in engaging relation, and the lowermost or endmost of the hangers defines a stop for the one next in line thereto. As will be described, a fixed stop element is provided for retaining the endmost of the hangers in the position as illustrated in FIG. 1. In order to move the hangers 30 from the first position to the second position as shown in FIG. 2, each of the hangers 3% is pivoted along its horizontal axis to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 and through an angle represented by the angle X. Because of the unique configuration of the hangers and particularly the oifset portions 40 thereof, the hangers are movable through the angle X to the second position wherein the side portions 36 thereof are substantially vertical and the offset portions 40 thereof are inclined with respect to the vertical. It is seen that a group of the hangers in the stack 28 may be moved to the second position which is shown located at the right of the housing 10 in FIG. 1 whereas the remaining hangers i may be located in a group in the first position as shown at the left of the housing in FIG. 1. By locating the hangers 30 in the groups at the first and second positions as illustrated, a space is defined between the endmost hanger in one group and the corresponding endmost hanger in the second group. This space enables the inner endmost hanger in each group to be moved to a point within the space for easy handling of the trousers contained on that hanger. Thus, unencumbered handling of each pair of trousers may be carried out by a customer without the fumbling and inconvenience of handling the other trousers in the rack. Moreover, each hanger may be flipped from one position to another position, easy inspection of the trousers contained on each hanger being possible during the flipping motion.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a portion of the hangers 30 are shown in a group at the first position and another portion are shown in a group at the second position. In order to retain the hangers at the first position wherein the side portions 36 thereof are inclined with respect to the vertical, stop elements 50 are provided and are secured to the inside surfaces of the rails 20 and 22. -It is seen that as the endmost of the hangers is moved to the first position, the offset portions 40 thereof will engage the stop elements 50 and positively retain the hanger in the first position as indicated. As each of the hangers 30 is moved to the first position, the side portions 36 thereof engage the corresponding side portions 36 of the adjacent hanger, which then act as stops therefor. As seen in FIG. 4 in this position, the ofiset portions 4% of the hangers are spaced from each other. As further seen in FIG. 4, additional stop elements 52 are secured to the inner surface of the rails 20 and 22 at the other ends thereof and are adapted to be engaged by the offset portions 40' of the endmost hanger adjacent thereto when this hanger is moved to the second position thereof. In the second position, the offset portions 40 of the hangers are located in inclined relation with respect to the vertical, and the side portions thereof are located substantially vertical. It will be further noted that in this second position, located by the stop elements 52, the offset portions 40 of each hanger engage the corresponding oflfset portions of the adjacent hanger to define the stops therefor.

The pivotal movement of each hanger is simply accomplished by moving the hangers from the first to the second position. Each hanger will be moved to a stopped position with respect to the next adjacent hanger and will remain in this position until returned to the original position thereof. The configuration of each of the hangers 3i) and particularly the offset portion thereof provide for the space that is defined by those hangers located in the groups at the first and second positions. It is apparent that each pair of trousers on a hanger is clearly visible by a customer and may be inspected and removed from its hanger without disturbing the trousers on the other hangers. It will be further noted that in locating the hangers in the second position as defined hereinabove, a space is formed between the side portions of each hanger with respect to the side portions of an adjacent hanger. This space provides room for a garment to be retained between hangers. In this position of the hangers as previously described, the off-set portions 40 are located in engaging relation. When the hangers are located in the first position, the side portions 36 of each hanger are inclined with respect to the vertical and are disposed in engaging relation with the side portions of an adjacent hanger. In this position the olfset portions 40 are spaced from each other, which spacing enables the adjacent side portions 36 to act as stop means for one another and further provides room for the garments on the adjacent hangers.

As shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3, longitudinally extending bars 54 may be secured to the side rails 20 and 22 or to the end rails 24 and 26 in overlapping relation with respect to the offset portions 36 of the hangers 30. The longitudinal bars 54 thus act to prevent the portions 44 from disengaging from the holes 32 where pressure is transmitted from hanger to hanger during the flipping action of the hangers.

It is seen that the rack illustrated herein is simple in construction and consists of relatively few parts. The design is modern and complements the surroundings of a modern establishment. Each garment located in the hanger unit is easily accessible, whereby the customer is able to conveniently inspect a garment without disturbing an adjacent garment. The arrangrnent of the garments in adjacent relation avoids the prior known technique of inspecting trousers wherein the selected trousers had to be pulled from underneath the heavy stack of trousers on a table top. Stooping, bending and searching for information relating to the garment may be avoided by the present invention since the size and price information for the trousers may be conveniently marked on the housing, and the customer need do no more than stand in front of the rack and fiip the hangers to the garment of his selection.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described, except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rack for displaying garments thereon, a frame including at least two spaced horizontal rails, in the inside opposing surfaces of which a plurality of holes are located in spaced apart relation, the holes in one rail being aligned with the holes in the other rail, a plurality of garment receiving hangers mounted on said rails for pivotal movement with respect thereto, each of said hangers including a horizontal garment supporting portion that extends substantially the distance between said rails and is elevated with respect thereto, side portions joined to the garment supporting portion of each hanger, a lower extension joined to each side portion and being offset with respect thereto, each of said lower extensions terminating in an outwardly extending projection that is received in one of said holes, wherein said hangers are pivotally mounted between said rails, said hangers being pivotally movable from a first position wherein the side portions are inclined with respect to the vertical to a second position wherein said side portions are disposed in vertical relation, wherein either of said adjacent hangers may be pivotally moved into said space to provide for unencumbered removal of the garment therefrom, and aligned stops fixed to the inside opposing surfaces of said rails and adjacent the ends thereof, the offset lower extension of the hangers that are located adjacent to said stops being adapted to engage said stops for locating the side portions of said hangers either in the inclined or vertical position as required.

2. In a rack for displaying garments thereon, a frame including at least two spaced horizontal rails, in the inside opposing surfaces of which a plurality of holes are located in spaced apart relation, said holes being disposed substantially in a horizontal plane and each hole in one rail being aligned with a corresponding hole in :the other rail, a plurality of garment reeciving hangers mounted on said rails for pivotal movement with respect thereto, each hanger including a horizontal portion for supporting a garment thereon and extending substantially the distance between said rails in elevated relation with respect thereto, side portions joined to each of said horizontal portions, said side portions being located in perpendicular relation with respect to the horizontal portion to which they are joined and being located in the same plane therewith, a lower extension joined to each side portion and being offset with respect thereto, an outwardly extending projection joined to each extension and being received in one of said holes for pivotally mounting said hangers between said rails, said hangers being pivotally movable from a first position at which the side portions thereof are inclined with respect to the vertical to a second position at which the side portions are vertical, a space being defined between a hanger located in the first position and a hanger located adjacent thereto in said second position, wherein either of the adjacnt hangers may be pivotally moved to locate the horizontal portion in said space so as to provide for unemcumbered removal of the garment therefrom, and means fixed to said rails adjacent to the ends thereof and being engageable by the offset extensions of the endmost hangers for arresting the pivotal movement of said hangers.

3. In a rack as set forth in claim 2, the side portions of each hanger being engageable by the side portions of an adjacent hanger to define a stop therefor when said side portions are inclined to the vertical, wherein the offset extensions thereof are substantially vertical, said offset extensions of each hanger being engageable by the offset extensions of an adjacent hanger to define a stop therefor when said hanger side portions are located in substantially vertical position.

4. In a rack for displaying garments, a frame including at least two spaced rails, a plurality of garment receiving hangers, each of which is mounted on. a horizontal axis between said rails for pivotal movement with respect thereto, each of said hangers including offset portions that provide for movement of said hangers from a first position to a second position, the offset portions of said hangers providing a space between a hanger located in the first position and a hanger located adjacent thereto in said second position, and means fixed to said rails and being engageable by the offset portions of the endmost of said hangers for arresting the pivotal movement thereof.

5. In a rack for displaying garments as set forth in claim 4, each of said hangers including a horizontal hanger receiving portion and side portions joined to said horizontal portion and to said offset portions, the side portions of each hanger being inclined to the vertical and engaging adjacent side portions when said hangers are located in said first position, the side portions of each hanger being vertical and the offset portions thereof being inclined and engaging adjacent offset portions when said hangers are located in said second position.

6. In a rack for displaying garments as set forth in claim 4 said arresting means including stop elements that are secured to said rails adjacent the ends thereof, one of said stop elements being located for engagement by the offset portions of one endmost hanger adjacent thereto for locating said offset portions in an inclined position with respect to the vertical, wherein the hanger in which the offset portions are located is substantially up right, the other of said stop elements being located for engagement by the offset portions of the other endmost hanger adjacent thereto for locating the latter named offset portions in inclined relation, wherein the hanger in which the latter named offset portions are located is subsubstantially inclined.

7. In a rack for displaying garments as set forth in claim 6, the offset portions of the hangers located in substantially upright position engaging each other to define arresting means therefor, said hangers including side portions that engage each other when said hangers are located in inclined relation and thereby forming arresting means therefor.

8. In a rack for displaying garments, a frame including at least two spaced rails, stop elements secured to said rails adjacent to the ends thereof, and a plurality of hangers each of which is mounted on a horizontal axis between said rails for pivotal movement with respect thereto, each of said hangers including a horizontal portion, side portions joined to said horizontal portion and offset portions joined to said side portions and being inclined with respect to the vertical where said side portions are vertically disposed, one of said stop elements being positioned for engagement by the offset portion of an endmost hanger to locate the side portions thereof in vertical 7 8 relation, and another of said stop elements being posi- References Cited by the Examiner tioned for engagement by the oflfset portions of another UNITED STATES PATENTS endmost hanger to locate the side portlons thereof in inclined relation With respect to the vertical, each of said 2195 6,685 10/1960 Levl 211 40 hangers 'being arranged for pivotal movement on the 5 3,072,263 1/1963 Cohen 211171 horizontal axis thereof such that the offset portions thereof engage adjacent oflFset portions when located in inclined CLAUDE LE ROY, Primary Examinerposition to limit further movement thereof, the side por- J. R FOSS, Assistant Examiner tions of the hangers engaging each other to limit further movement thereof When said offset portions are vertical. 10 

1. IN A RACK FOR DISPLAYING GARMENTS THEREON, A FRAME INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO SPACED HORIZONTAL RAILS, IN THE INSIDE OPPOSING SURFACES OF WHICH A PLURALITY OF HOLES ARE LOCATED IN SPACED APART RELATION, THE HOLES IN ONE RAIL BEING ALIGNED WITH THE HOLES IN THE OTHER RAIL, A PLURALITY OF GARMENT RECEIVING HANGERS MOUNTED ON SAID RAILS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO, EACH OF SAID HANGERS INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL GARMENT SUPPORTING PORTION THAT EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID RAILS AND IS ELEVATED WITH RESPECT THERETO, SIDE PORTIONS JOINED TO THE GARMENT SUPPORTING PORTION OF EACH HANGER, A LOWER EXTENSION JOINED TO EACH SIDE PORTION AND BEING OFFSET WITH RESPECT THERETO, EACH OF SAID LOWER EXTENSIONS TERMINATING IN AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PROJECTING THAT IS RECEIVED IN ONE OF SAID HOLES, WHEREIN SAID HANGERS ARE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID RAILS, SAID HANGERS BEING PIVOTALLY MOVABLE FROM A FIRST POSITION WHEREIN THE SIDE PORTIONS ARE INCLINED WITH RESPECT TO THE VERTICAL TO A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID SIDE PORTIONS ARE DISPOSED IN VERTICAL RELATION, WHEREIN EITHER OF SAID ADJACENT HANGERS MAY BE PIVOTALLY MOVED INTO SAID SPACE TO PROVIDE FOR UNENCUMBERED REMOVAL OF THE GARMENT THEREFROM, AND ALIGNED STOPS FIXED TO THE INSIDE OPPOSING SURFACES OF SAID RAILS AND ADJACENT THE ENDS THEREOF, THE OFFSET LOWER EXTENSION OF THE HANGERS THAT ARE LOCATED ADJACENT TO SAID STOPS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID STOPS FOR LOCATING THE SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID HANGERS EITHER IN THE INCLINED FOR VERTICAL POSITION AS REQUIRED. 